Monday, March 30, 2015

What a fascinating place. It was summertime when the GoogleStreet View car went to Greenland, and I was entertained by all the dogs obviously on vacation for the summer from their usual winter sled-doggie duties.

I saw dozens of packs lounging around, catching sun or carefully eyeing the google camera as it drove by. This fellow caught my eye... with his ONE peeking eye.

He was curled up on a warm rock, and behind him in the bay was a gorgeous iceburg, half hidden under the water.

I chuckled because the dog also looked half hidden, curled up with his nose tucked into his warm tail, yet peeking out with that one alert eye. (As usual, can click on any images to enlarge)

Here's the original location of my painting:

A close up of my spotted furry friend:

And the finished painting:

"Half Hidden"Siaqqissoq, Greenland9 x 12 acrylic onwatercolor paper

Happy painting,

Retta

PS: I haven't mentioned it in awhile, but Virtual Paintout is open to all artists of most traditional mediums, of all skill ranges. So please feel free to check us out at the Virtual Paintout blog.It really is a blast painting all around the world. We never know where we'll end up at the first of every month til our leader, artist Bill Guffey, posts the new location. Join us!?

Saturday, February 28, 2015

I found beauty there, but it was also heartbreaking. Everywhere I saw the women and girls wearing colorfully beautiful clothing, yet there was obvious poverty. The villages and parts of the cities were so sad, yet there was beauty in the countryside.

An old gentleman, squatting with his hands on his knees, caught my eye. It was his hands... old, knobby and with a story to tell... that touched me.

Here is the original location of my painting:

And here is my painting, done from my heart in response to his Hands (can image to enlarge).

Friday, January 30, 2015

For the first month of this new year the Virtual Paintoutgang went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gorgeous state! Lots of historic sites and statues, rich with meaning.

I passed by (virtually, using Google Street View) this lovely open area on Lemon Hill Drive and noticed the covered picnic area in a beautiful park-like setting. Then my imagination took over, and I thought "what if?"...

Lemon Hill Drive location:

What if folks were enjoying a peaceful picnic on a beautiful afternoon...

What if suddenly they noticed the ground vibrating, and heard loud growling sounds...

What if "something" was coming...

What if the screaming started, and everyone took off at a dead run...

And what if an uninvited Mother and child showed up at the picnic?? (can click images to enlarge)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Our lesson this week for Sketchbook Skool was about using a Grid as an aid to good composition. I hadn't tried that before, and enjoyed it so much!

I didn't have the suggested veggies n fruits, SO... Joey lent me some of her DOGGIE TOYS as "pretenders"!

It was so much fun. Loved the grid idea, and hummed the song "The Great Pretender" for hours. Then found it on youtube and listened to The Platters sing it while I sketched. Can't beat that for a great time. (can click image to enlarge)

"The Great Pretenders"

9 x 12 sketchbook; ink, watercolor,

colored pencil, watercolor pencils

Our teacher this week was Jane LaFazio. Such a creative lady! She not only paints and sketches, but turns those sketches into art quilts, does mixed media art and offers free Tiny Tutorials. If you enjoy artistic variety, visit her blog HERE.